Marina Resort is a recreational and historical destination in Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State, Nigeria. [1] It was built on May 26, 2007, by former governor Donald Duke, to promote tourism in the state. [2] [3] The resort features a variety of attractions, such as a slave history museum, a cinema, a restaurant, a bar, and a waterfront area. [4]
Marina Resort was inaugurated on May 26, 2007, by former governor Donald Duke, as part of his vision to transform Calabar into a tourist hub. The resort was built on the site of a former slave port, where thousands of Africans were shipped across the Atlantic Ocean during the transatlantic slave trade. [5] [6] [7] The resort aims to preserve the memory of the slave trade and its impact on the region, as well as to provide a relaxing and entertaining place for visitors. [8]
On June 24, 2023, a tragic boat accident occurred at Marina Resort, involving 14 medical students who had boarded a cruise boat. [9] [10] The boat capsized resulting in the death of three students and the rescue of 11 others. [11] [12] The governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, ordered an immediate suspension of all cruise boat operations and other activities at the resort. [13] [14]
On September 6, 2023, Marina Resort reopened to the public after being closed for over two months due to a boat accident that claimed the lives of three medical students. [15] [16]
Cross River State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named for the Cross River, the state was formed from the eastern part of the Eastern Region on 27 May 1967. Its capital is Calabar, it borders to the north through Benue state, to the west through Ebonyi state and Abia state, and to the southwest through Akwa Ibom state, while its eastern border forms part of the national border with Cameroon. Originally known as the South-Eastern State before being renamed in 1976, Cross River state formerly included the area that is now Akwa Ibom state, which became a distinct state in 1987.
Calabar is the capital city of Cross River State, Nigeria. It was originally named Akwa Akpa, in the Efik language, as the Efik people dominated this area. The city is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers, and the creeks of the Cross River.
Donald Duke is a Nigerian politician. He was the Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007 and the 2019 Nigeria Presidential candidate for Social Democratic Party, SDP.
Calabar Carnival is an annual carnival held in Cross River State, Nigeria. Also known as Africa's Biggest Street Party, the carnival holds every December and was declared by the then governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke as an activity to mark Christmas celebration yearly. He said his vision for creating the festival was to make Cross-River a home of tourism and hospitality in Nigeria and Africa. The quality of the festival has grown over the years making it Nigeria's biggest carnival and an internationally recognized festival. It used to be a month-long event that began on the 1st of December, until the former governor of the state, Benedict Ayade reduced it to two weeks after he was elected. During the 2017 carnival, Former governor Benedict Ayade said in his speech that the carnival is to showcase Africa as the richest continent and a blessed place where the young ones should be proud to belong. The carnival has always been entertaining and colourful as different competitions take place and huge cash prizes are won. Calabar which is also known by the name Canaan City, is a city in south-eastern Nigeria. Calabar is actually the capital city of Cross River State. Calabar sits adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa Rivers and Falls as well as the creeks of the Cross River.
Duke Town, originally known as Atakpa, is an Efik city-state that flourished in the 19th century in what is now southern Nigeria. The City State extended from now Calabar to Bakassi in the east and Oron to the west. Although it is now absorbed into Nigeria, traditional rulers of the state are still recognized. The state occupied what is now the modern city of Calabar.
Cross River is the main river in southeastern Nigeria and gives its name to Cross River State. It originates in Cameroon, where it takes the name of the Manyu River. Although not long by African standards its catchment has high rainfall and it becomes very wide. Over its last 80 kilometres (50 mi) to the sea it flows through swampy rainforest with numerous creeks and forms an inland delta near its confluence with the Calabar River, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) wide and 50 kilometres (31 mi) long between the cities of Oron on the west bank and Calabar, on the east bank, more than 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the open sea. The delta empties into a broad estuary which it shares with a few smaller rivers. At its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean, the estuary is 24 kilometres (15 mi) wide. The eastern side of the estuary is in the neighboring country of Cameroon.
Bassey Edet Otu is a Nigerian politician and the current governor of Cross River State Southern Nigeria. who served as a time senator for Cross River South from 2011 to 2015, and a one time representative of Calabar Municipal/Odukpani constituency of Cross River State, in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011.
The Calabar River in Cross River State, Nigeria flows from the north past the city of Calabar, joining the larger Cross River about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the south. The river at Calabar forms a natural harbor deep enough for vessels with a draft of 6 metres (20 ft).
University of Cross River State also known as UNICROSS is a state-owned tertiary institution with four campuses spread across four Local Government Areas of the state. The University was formerly known as the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH). It was renamed in February of 2021 by a bill passed at Cross River State House of Assembly which was then approved by the former Governor of the State, Benedict Ayade. The change of the tertiary institution's name was to enable the varsity function as a conventional University, which provides the opportunity to offer more professional courses rather focusing on tech-related courses. The present Vice Chancellor of the institution is Prof Augustine Angba.
Ernest Ibok Etim-Bassey was a Nigerian socialist, journalist, public servant and politician who studied journalism at Moscow's Friendship University, in the former Soviet Union. He held the traditional title of Otu Ekong of Efikland. Born in Ikoneto, Odukpani LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria, in 1926. He died in Calabar on 6 August 1998 and was buried in Ikoneto on 25 October 1998.
The 2023 Cross River State gubernatorial election took place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Cross River State, concurrent with elections to the Cross River State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent APC Governor Benedict Ayade was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term.
The Slave History Museum is a museum in the Nigerian city of Calabar, which was a major embarkation port of the African Slave Trade, about 200,000 Africans being sold as slaves from Calabar between 1662 and 1863.
On 30 November 2021, a severely overloaded boat carrying more than 50 people, mostly children aged between 8 and 15, capsized on the Watari Dam in Kano State, Nigeria. At least 29 are confirmed dead and 13 more are missing.
Asuquo Ekpenyong is a Nigerian politician and financial analyst. He is the former Cross River State Commissioner for Finance and is currently the senator representing Cross River south senatorial district and the youngest Senator in the Nigerian Senate.
Events in the year 2023 in Nigeria.
On 12 June 2023, a vessel capsized and split in two in the Niger River near Pategi, Kwara State, Nigeria. The boat was carrying attendees of a wedding, who came initially on motorcycles, but were stranded due to heavy rain. At least 108 people have been confirmed dead. Dozens are missing.
The Obong of Calabar is the traditional ruler and custodian of the culture of the Efik people of Western Africa. The Obong is referred to as a natural ruler, treaty King, grand patriarch of the Efik Kingdom and later bestowed with the additional title of defender of the Christian faith by a British monarch owing to the Obong's documented efforts in helping the spread of christianity in his domain. The Efik people are dispersed and settled in many parts of south eastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroun but are mostly Centred in Calabar, capital of Cross River State. Calabar which was named by the Portuguese was locally known as Ata Akpa in local Efik language.
Peter Odey is a Nigerian politician who is currently the deputy governor of Cross River State. He is the former leader of the Cross River State House of Assembly.
Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V is the present the Obong of Calabar and the 78th recognised monarch of the Efik People, he was crowned and officially recognised by the Government of Cross River State on 11 July 2008.
4°57′54″N8°19′2″E / 4.96500°N 8.31722°E
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